Letter: The presidency may never be the same

Saturday

Jan 28, 2017 at 12:01 AM

Patricia J Shine, New Bern

The party of Lincoln and Reagan take pride in their traditional values. They favor small government, conservative social mores and fiscal constraint. They consider that individual freedom and responsibility and the private sector are enough to make working people successful. (Somehow that individual freedom and responsibility doesn’t apply to women’s choices about their reproductive health). They demand a strong military, and deny climate science. Their holy grail is the U.S. Constitution. It is hard to believe that this righteous, moral grand old party is responsible for the desecration of the American presidency.

It started with the election of the first African-American president. Mitch McMonnell said he would work very hard to be sure that he was a one-term president and proceeded to do all he could to interfere with the president’s agenda. A congressman felt it was OK to yell “you lie” during the State of the Union Address.

Legislatively, with control of the House and Senate, the president was able to enact the ACA. After having to bail out the auto industry and saving an economy on the brink of collapse due to GOP policies, the president focused on immigration reform. The Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group of senators, passed legislation that resolved many of the issues of concern to most. The speaker of the house refused to call a vote. It would have won with bipartisan support. That would have meant compromise. Out of the question.

The emergence of the tea party in 2010 meant loss of house control and demand for fiscal austerity and a voting bloc that disdained any bipartisan legislation. The Republican shutdown of the government was yet another scheme to embarrass the president. It didn’t work though. The people recognized those responsible. Congress favorability fell to 13 percent.

After 50-some attempts to repeal the ACA, it was time to turn to other interference. Climate legislation, no thank you, nuclear arms control, no, but let’s invite Netanyahu to speak to Congress without telling the president. Let’s not let our president replace a Supreme Court justice.

What happens when the government doesn’t work for the people? What happens when failure to compromise means lack of movement and that leads to lack of respect, anger and hostility? We have seen it on display at all of Trump’s rallies, and the grand old party has its president.

As I sit here devastated by the results of the election, I am frightened and genuinely pessimistic about our county. I am enraged by the lack of leadership in the party that now controls our government. We all witnessed Donald Trump’s abhorrent campaign. Right now, African-Americans, Latinos, Muslim “others” are being harassed by Trump supporters. As a woman and mother of a young woman, I fear for our safety as men have been encouraged and emboldened to no longer be concerned to be politically correct or, polite, for that matter. Just “say it like it is.” Well, I will.

President Obama is the embodiment of intelligence, dignity, compassion and so much more. When he speaks, I listen intently. His family is phenomenal. Michelle Obama is the picture of serenity and grace despite what she’s had to hear about her husband. We’ve watched their daughters grow into lovely young women. They’ve caused no scandals, investigations, or lawsuits. I will miss them.

These are the same people who obstructed President Obama every step of the way.

Do you think they favor party and power over country and what’s best for all of their constituents? I do.

Their president displays questionable behavior every day and the leaders are all smiles. They encourage him.

The grand old party has successfully desecrated the American presidency. It may never be the same. We’ve gone from a statesman to a con man. These leaders who so value the Constitution have stomped all over it.

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